Shock-diffuser



F. F. LANDIS.

SHOCK DIFFUSER.'

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. 1916.

Patentadl Nov. 15 1921i,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l\ Q N N w w w lull wihwoom F. F. LANDIS.

SHOCK DIFFUSER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET Z.

aflioznelg Patented Nov. 11.5, 1921.,

LBQZ MQQ F. F. LANDIS.

SHOCK DIFFUSER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY]. 1916.

.Pmtenmd Nov. 15 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

F. F. LANDIS.

SHOCK DIFFUSER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1916. L39?,%EQ Patented Nov. 15, 1921.,

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

FRANK F. LANDIS, OF WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOCK-DIFFUSER.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FRANK F LANDIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Vaynesboro, Franklin county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented and discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Shock-Diffusers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to shock diffusers for vehicles and consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claims.

The invention consists and is characterized in that it embodies various important improvements, developed as the result of practical experiments in the use of the construction of shock diffuser disclosed by my U. S. Patent, No. 1,174,507, dated March 7, 1916. It provides means which eliminates the necessity of an oil tight packing, such as required to retain the liquid (as oil) used in the diffuser, and since the life of such packing is of very short duration and also produces considerable friction that stitfens the spring and reduces its yielding qualities during spring compression, these improvements materially increase the service and value of the device.

It is further characterized in that the oil not under pressure is constantly moving in the direction that makes it possible to always follow the movement of the piston and prevent cavitation thereunder during spring compression, thus insuring that the piston will meet with resistance at the start of spring recoil.

It is also further characterized by cushion ing means which retains a percentage of air mingled with the oil under pressure.

The invention is shown by way of illustpation in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the relation of parts at initial spring compression.

Fig. 2 a similar View showing the parts at initial spring recoil.

Fig. 3 a detail view of the plate having the by-passes.

Fig. 4 a detail View showing the connection between the piston rod and piston. I

F ig. 5 a bottom plan view of the piston.

Fig. 6 an enlarged detail view, in section,

of the cylinder relief valve.

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of piston, and Fig. 8 a View of yet another modified form.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1221.

Application filed July 7, 1916. Serial No. 108,036.

Referring to the construction in detail, l designates a casing, which is designed with a cylindrical body to receive the cylinder 2, and with an offsetting portion 3 forming a chamber having parallel sides. A pair of arms 4 and 5 are secured to lugs 6 and 7 on the casing and, with the arm 8, mount the shoclr dilfuser on the body and axle, or respective spring elements, of the vehicle. The casing is adapted to be filled with liquid, preferably a light oil, through the opening closed by the plug 9, and to substantially the level of said plug, as shown in Fig. 1.

A threaded cap 10 is screwed into the bottom wall of the casing and is formed on its inner face with a central project-ion, or boss 11, that has fitted thereover and positions a pl ate 12; and said plate (see Fig. 3) has a pro ecting portion 13 formed with one or more channels or by-passes 14 milled into the top surface thereof. The use of the separate plate 12 is essentially to accommodate manufacture, inasmuch as the by-passes could be formed in the top face of the cap 10. The by-passes 14 cooperate with the open bottom 15 of the cylinder 2 to provide fluid throttling sections for the liquid bod of the diffuser, as will be further explaine A pair of webs 1O are formed on the bottom of the cap 10 by which the cap may be readily applied or removed from position.

The cylinder 2 is mounted to have limited movement within the casing, through the operation of the piston 16 working therein, by the lugs 17 formed on the casing and loosely engaging with the lower portion of the cylinder, and similar lugs 18 engaging with the upper portion thereof and constructed with stops to contact with the upper end of the cylinder, but which allow the piston to pass. Said pistonis carried by the piston rod 19 which is mounted on the short arm 20, with a lOOSe connection, by the pin 21. The arm 20 is rigidly secured to the journal 22 mounted in appropriate bearings in the sides of the casing, and the two members of the arm 8 are clamped to the projecting ends of said journal, as will be readily understood. The piston rod 19 is connected to the piston by a pin 23, whose outer ends fit loosely in the holes 24 formed in the sides of said piston, and forms a valve that operates to allow. the liquid to pass therethrough with a throttling action when said piston is not met sage-way when the piston moves against a liquid resistance, z'. e., on the compression and recoiling movements, respectively, of the vehicle spring.

The piston rod 19 is provided with a tube 28 forming an air vent having its upper end located well above the surface of the liquid in said casing. The lower end of said tube 28 communicates with a port formed in valve 30, which port terminates in an opening 29 in the face of said valve located to be covered by the seat around the opening through piston 16, thereby providing for tightly closing the passage through the vent tube when the piston rod is going down and the valve is seated on the piston, as in Fig.

At the start of the spring compression, all parts are as shown in Fig. 1, when the valve on rod and seat in piston are separated about one-sixteenth of an inch, and as the rod and piston move upwardly very rapidly (as in the case when the wheel of auto meets an obstruction), there is caused a rapid flow of oil between the seat and said valve. This rapid flow of oil across opening 29 produces a strong suction at the bottom of the vent tube 28, mingling a small stream of air with the oil, thereby retaining a pro er amount of air within the space in the cylinder, below the piston. When the car is at rest, or running over very smooth roads so that the diffuser is inactive and the parts 16 and 30 become separated, as shown in Fig. 1, and the parts 15 and 12 also separate, the air that may be mingled with the oil will separate and rise to the surface of oil in the casing, but the air chamher will always remain full of air.

lVith the employment of the vent tube 28 in connection with the opening 29 on the face of the valve, the chamber 27 in the piston rod retains the required amount of trapped air during the time the diffuser is inactive, as when the car is at a standstill, or while running over very smooth roads. Under such conditions, except for this, the air mixed with the oil, in the form of a froth, would very soon rise to the surface of the oil, and then escape through the opening in the piston and rise to the surface of the main body of oil. The loss of trapped air, caused by inactivity of the spring would make the action purely hydraulic at the start of spring recoil. This would produce heavy strains in the diffuser and cause unpleasant jars, until the required amount of cushioning air is again drawn down through vent 28 by violent spring actions.

On one side of cylinder 2, and within the offsetting portion 3 of the casing 1, near its bottom, is a Web 25. A deflector 26 is located at the top of said portion 3, and, cooperating with said web '25, serves to define the direction of the circulation of the liquid, as follows! The liquid escaping through by-passes 14 under high pressure from within cylinder 2, first strikes the curve at the bottom of the casing portion 3 in the rear of and below web 25. The lower end of web 25 is formed and disposed with respect to the liquid by-pass 14 so that the high pressure jet of liquid from the bypasses let produces a siphon action and carries with it another stream of liquid, which is supplied from the liquid around the outside and lower portion of cylinder 2. This combination causes the liquid to move during the time of shock diffusion with considerable speed along substantially the lines indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.

On the return stroke of the piston, said by-pass 14 are relieved by the lifting of the cylinder, but the liquid on the outside of the cylinder will, by its own momentum, continue to movein' the same course, and its speed will increase due to the increased extent of intake and high piston speed during spring compression, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Inasmuch as the liquid around the entire outside of cylinder 2 is constantly moving with considerable momentum in the direction required to promptly enter the space under the piston, through the large opening 1 in the bottom of ,said cylinder and through the valve in the piston, the possi bility of cavitation under the piston during spring compression is avoided. In other constructions, this cavitation under the piston, caused by failure of the oil to entirely fill the displacement during high piston speed, is responsible for their failure to insure proper retardation during spring recoil; for if there is cavitation, or part of the space under the piston not filled with oil, at the instant spring compression stops, the spring recoil will be accelerated rather than arrested, and the spring recoil at its start obtain a high speed before meeting a hydraulic resistance (the only means to properly impart a retarding or controlling element to spring recoil.) These conditions, heretofore existing, produce a violent jar after start of spring recoil, and this jar has defeated the employment of hydraulic resistance by preventing satisfactory control of violent spring recoils.

My invention also embodies means by which a constant air cushion is maintained, during hydraulic action, to provide a time regulating element during spring recoil. Such cushion is provided by the admission of a small quantity of air, with the oil, into the space under the piston within the cylinder. It is apparent thatair within any space subjected to a piston pressure will be compressed and provide a cushion at start of spring recoil.

This air compression incidentally increases liquid displacement on the free side naeaaae pression under the piston, therefore lowerin the level ofliquid within the caslng 1' an causing a slight suction within the space above the liquid in the casing during said spring recoil.

During the start of spring compression, which is always very quick, the compressed air under the piston, in communication with the oil under pressure, is suddenly relieved. The result is aimild explosion,which produces a pressure instead of a suction above the oil in said casing 1 in excess of the Outside atmosphere; but this excess internal pressure, within the casing is instantly relieved by the light ring valve 36 rising from its seat. This valve is seated upon two concentric seats 36 and 36 the space between the seats forming a groove or channel which exposes a large area of the bottom surface of said valve to the internal pressure through openings 37 Owing to the large bottom valve surface exposed to pressure, said valve is raised by very slight pressure. Now, from the fact that the said ring valve is seated upon the seats 36 and 36", the light suction during spring recoil under violent action is partly supplied through the center of said valve and draining tube 38, the lower end of which is normally oil sealed, extending below the surface of the main body of oil and the deflector 26 of the offsetting portion 3, but under violent spring action this oil may be tilted or thrown to one side, uncovering for the moment the end of tube 38 and permitting additional air to be drawn into casing 1. The excess air pressure above the main body of oil, produced during violent spring compression, is instantly relieved by the ring-valve 36, so that it is never suiiicient to force oil through the large bearing in which the journal'of arm 8 oscillates.

The resistance to the flow of air by the film of lubricant around the said journals and bearings of the arms 8, is slightly greater than the resistance of said light ring-valve. Therefore. the oil or lubricant around the bearings is not forcedout and the bearings and journals are always properly lubricated, without waste, from the oil Within the casing. Without the relief valve, the movements of the journals and the intermittent pressures against the faces of the bearings would force the lubricant out and Waste the same, but the construction of my breathing valve provides such a condition that neither the suction or the pressure from the inside is ever sufii'cient to overcome the viscidity or adhesion of the lubricants; and the pressures around the inside and outside ends of said bearings automatically oppose each other in such a manner that the lubricants are maintained as a thin film within said bearings, preventing both the waste of oil and the intake of dust.

The air vent and oil spray separator is shown on an enlar ed scale in Fig. 6, wherein 31 is the body 0 the separator, the base of which is tightly pressed into a smooth, finished hole, through a boss, on said casing, as shown in Fi s. 1 and 2. The upper half of the body 31 orms an air chamber 31, and on the bottom of said chamber are the two concentric valve seats 36 and 36 between which is a circular channel that communicates with the ducts 37. A plug 39, having a threaded portion, screws into a threaded opening through the center of the body 31, and said threaded plug portion has a central and side apertures 39 and 40", providing a passage between the tube 38 and the lower chamber of the casing 31.

A cap 34 is secured to the top of body 31 by the screw bolt 40 and has a reduced port1on fitting into the chamber 31 of about the diameter of seat 36, and extends sufiiciently to limit the lift of the ring-valve 36. Said cap has a hole through its center, receiving the plug 39; and near its top, said hole 'is formed into an annular groove or chamber 34 that communicates with the chamber 31 through the duct or passageway 35. A downwardly curved tube 35 is secured to the cap 34 and leads from the chamber 34 to the atmosphere. This air vent and oil spray separator no doubt can be modified in construction, but its present form is very desirable from the fact that by the removing of screw bolt 39, all parts are accessible for examination and cleaning. The functions of the above described device, relating to adjustments of air pressures around bearings and journals, to prevent the waste of oil from said bearing, will be fully understood from the foregoing description of the diffuser in general.

The air passing through passages 37 and entering the annular channel between valve seats 36 and 36, spreads against the bottom of ring-valve 36 and partly strikes the threads of screw 39 and the walls of air chamber within body 31, and spreads over the inside surface of said air chamber, the lower parts of cap 34, and finally the air escapes at the top of said air chamber through the vent communicating with the annular groove within the cap 34, then around the body of screw 39 and out through air vent 35. The oil carried with the air in the form of a spray, while subjected to great distortions and impacts against the metal surfaces, condenses upon said surfaces to which it adheres and by gravity, and the slight air current drawn down through vent 38 by suction during spring recoil, returns said sprayed oil from the trap 41", through the center of said ring-valve while it is seated, then devices for separating the entrained water from steam back into the boiler by gravity, with the addition that the light suction of air down through vent 38, during spring recoil, assists gravity to return the separated oil back into casing 1.

In the construction shown in Fig. 7, the piston 41 has downwardly extended walls 42 and 43 below the valve 30, forming an annula chamber 44 adapted to hold a quantity of air above the oil under the piston. This air .chamber would be just as effective as that provided by the hollow piston rod 19, but the latter construction is preferred for the reason that the piston and the cylinder can be made shorter.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 8, the cylinder 55 is fixed with its lower opening covered by a valve 50, opening inward. This valve has guide lugs 51 on its bottom side, the outsides of which fit loosely in the large opening through the bottom of the cylinder. A pin 52 extends through two opposite lugs to limit its lift. lVhen the piston rises valve 50 is also adapted to be raised to admit liquid passing between the lugs 57 and about the valve 50 to the cylinder.

The guide lugs 53 at the upper end of the casing 54 are the same as with the floating cylinder, and the top end of cylinder '55 is held against the shoulder by the cap 56 at bottom of casing 54 by lugs 57 which are integral with cap 56 and center the cylinder in the casing. At the upper end of cylinder 55 there is a short slot into which the inner end of small pin or screw 58 enters. This small pin or screw prevents the cylinder turning in the casino. The by-pass 59 is shown as one or more small holes through the side of the I cylinder near its bottom, and must be fixed in-its location, so that itwill discharge into the offsetting portion of the casing. The cap 56 may'not always clamp the cylinder against the shoulders on the guide lugs 53 when drawn up tight against the bottom edge of the casing, but the screw 58, the inner end of which extends into the short slot at the upper end of the cylinder, will prevent it from turning and always locate the by-pass with relation to the offset portion of the casing.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to belimited toxsuch features except as may berequired by the claims.

Having thus fully' described my, said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

' 1. The method of diffusing shocks consisting in confining a compressible and a noncompressible fluid in a chamber, impressing the shocks first onthe compressible fluid to compress the same and then transferring them to the non-compressible fluid to transpose the same and automatically replenish ing the compressible fluid, substantially as set forth.

2. The method of difiusing shocks comprising confining fluids of different density in a chamber, impressing the shocks first on the fluid of lesser density and then transferring the shock to the fluid of greater density to displace the same, and automatically replenishing the supply of fluid of lesser density, substantialy as set forth.

3. A shock diffuser comprising ahousing, a part movable within the housing, means to transfer shock impulses to the moving part, means to retain compressible fluid in position to receive and be compressed by the initial shock impulse, a non compressible fluid acted upon by the moving part and the compressible fluid and adapted to be transposed by the further movement of the moving part, and avent tube in communication with the atmosphere and the compressible fluid to replenish said fluid.

4. A shock diffuser comprising a housing, a partmounted to move within the housing,

means to transfer the shock impulses to the moving part, means to retain air in posltion to be compressedl by the initial shock impulse, means to retain a non-compressible fluid in position to be acted upon by the air and the moving part, and a vent tube associated with the moving part in communication with the air to replenish the air.

5. A shock diffuser comprising a fluid containing casing, a cylinder mounted therein, a piston operable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and providing .a passageway therewith, and a deflector located in said casing, said deflector and the passageway cotiperable to cause the fluid to travel continuously in one direction in the casing through the action of said piston and cylinder, substantially as set forth.

6. A shock diffuser comprising a liquid containing casing, a cylinder mounted therein and having'an opening in its bottom, a piston operable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and providing a passageway therewith, and deflectors mounted in said casing, said deflectors, the passageway and cylinder opening cooperable to cause the fluid to travel continuously in one direction in the casing through the action of said piston and cylinder, substantially as set forth. I

7. A shockdiffuser comprising a liquid containing casing, a cylinder mounted therein, a piston operable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and forming a throttling valve therewith adapted to close when the piston is moved in one direction and to open when the piston is moved in the other direction, means for connecting the casing and piston rod to the body and aaenaae axle of the vehicle, said piston rod provided with an air chamber, and an air vent tube mounted on the piston rod having one end extending above the liquid level and the other end thereof enlarged and terminating on the said piston valve and adapted to deliver air into the air chamber from the space above the liquid level through the operations of said piston, substantially as set forth.

8. A shock difluser comprising a liquid containing casing, a'cylinder mounted therein and having an opening in its bottom, a

piston operable in said cylinder, a piston rod having a loose connection with said piston providing a liquid passageway when the piston is moved in one direction and closing said passageway when the piston is moved in the other direction, means for connecting the casing and said piston rod to the body and axle of the vehicle, and deflectors mounted in said casing, said deflectors, the passageway and cylinder opening cooperable to cause the fluid around the cylinder to I travel continuously in one direction through the action ofsaid piston and cylinder, substantially as set forth.

9. A shock difi'user comprising a fluid containing casing, a cylinder mounted there in and having an opening in its bottom, the wall of said casing adjacent said cylinder opening constructed with by-passes provid-- ing constricted passages between the casing and cylinder chambers when said cylinder is seated on the casing, a piston operable in the cylinder, a piston rod having a loose connection with said piston providing a passageway when the piston is moved in one direction and closing said passageway when the piston is moved in, the other direction, means for connecting the casing and said piston rod to the body and axle of the vehicle, and deflectors mounted in said casing, said deflectors, the passage-way, and bypasses cooperable to cause the fluid around the cylinder to travel continuously in one di rection through the action of said piston and cylinder, substantially as set forth.

10. A shock diffuser comprising a liquid containing casing, a cylinder mounted therein and having an opening in its bottom, the wall of said casing adjacent said cylinder opening constructed with by-passes providing constricted passages between the casing and cylinder when said cylinder is seated on the casing, a. piston operable in the cylinder, a. piston rod having a loose connection with said piston providinga passageway when the piston is moved in one direction and closing said passageway when the piston is moved in the other direction, a deflector mounted in the casing adjacent said constricted passages, and a deflector mounted in the casing adjacent the upper end of the cylinder, said deflector, the passageway, and by-passes cooperable to cause the liquid around the cylinder to travel continuously in the direction required to again enter the cylinder through the action of said piston and cylinder, substantially as set forth.

11. A shock difl'user comprising a liquid containing casing having an off-set chamber, an open ended cylinder floatingly mounted in said casing, said casing constructed with by-passes providing constricted passages between the casing and the lower end of the cylinder when said cylinder is seated on the casing, a piston operable in the cylinder, a piston rod providing a passageway when the piston is moved in one direction and closing said passageway when the piston is moved in the other direction, and deflectors within said casing and adjacent the respective open ends of said cylinder, said deflectors, the passageway, the cylinder off-set chamber, and said by-passes cooperable to cause the liquid around the cylinder to travel continuously in the direction required to enter the cylinder through the action of said piston and cylinder, substantially as set forth.

12. A shock diffuser comprising a liquid containing casing, a cylinder in said casing, a piston operable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and provided with an air chamber, said air chamber proproviding a cushion to initially difluse the shock, and means communicating with the atmosphere for automatically maintaining constant the volume of air in the air chamber, substantially as set forth.

14. A shock difluser comprising a liquid containing casing, a cylinder in said casing, a piston operable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and provided with an air chamber, means for connecting the casing and said piston rod to the body and axle of the vehicle, said air chamber providing a cushion to initially difluse the shock, and means comunicating with the atmosphere for maintaining constant the volume of air in the air chamber and reventing the escape of liquid from the casing, substantially as set forth.

15. A hock diffuser comprising a fluid containig casing, a cylinder in said casing, a piston operable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and provided with an air chamber, means for connecting the casing and said piston rod to the body and axle of the vehicle, said air chamber providing a cushion to initially diffuse the shock, means for admitting air into the easing, and means for conducting the air from the casing into the air chamber through the action of the piston, substantially as set forth.

16. A shock diffuser comprising a fluid containing casing, a cylinder in said casing, a piston operable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and provided with an air chamber, means for connecting the casing and said piston .rod to the body and axle of the vehicle, said air chamber providing a cushion to initially diffuse the shock, mean for admitting air into the casing, and a tube for conducting the air from the casing into the air chamberv through the action of the piston, substantially as set forth. y

17. A shock diffuser comprising a fluid containing casing, a cylinder in said casing, a piston operable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and provided with an air chamber, means for connecting the casing and said piston rod to the body and axle of the vehicle, said air chamber providing a cushion to initially diffuse the shock, and a tube carried by said piston rod for conducting the air from the easing into the air chamber through the action of the piston, substantially as set forth,

18. A shock diffuser comprising a liquid containing casing, a cylinder in. said casing, a piston operable in said cylinder, a piston rod connected to said piston and provided with an air chamber, means for connecting the casing and said piston rod to the body and axle of the vehicle, mean for conditionally admitting air from the atmosphere into said air chamber, an air relief valve to the atmosphere mounted on the casing, and a trap for collecting liquid in said valve and returning the same to the casing, substantially as set forth.

19. A shock diffuser comprising a fluid containing casing, a cylinder movably mounted in said casing and having an open bottom, guides on said casing for limiting the movement of the cylinder, a plate located adjacent the open end of the cylinder having a plurality of 'by-passes providing constricted liquid passages when the cylinder seats on said plate, a piston operable in the cylinder, a piston rod having a loose connection with the piston forming a liquid passageway when the piston is moved in one direction and closing said passageway when the piston moves in the other direction, said piston rod having an air chamber formed therein providing a cushion for diffusing the initial shock, means for maintaining the air volume in said chamber constant, means for connecting the casing and piston rod to the body and axle of the vehicle, and deflectors mounted in the casing,

said deflectors cooperable with said passageways to cause the liquid around the cylinder to move constantly in one direction through the operation of said piston and cylinder, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination with a shock diffuser and having a vent opening, a trap for collecting the liquid in said member, aguard for preventing the escape of liquid through the vent opening, and a tube extending from said trap to a point below the level of the liquid for returning thereto the liquid 001- lected in the trap, substantially as set forth.

"22. The combination with a shock diffuser comprising a casing havingliquid and gas shock diffusing means, of a gas relief valve comprising a member secured to the casing and formed with a central chamber, said member having apertures, an air vent, and a trap for collecting the liquid that enters said chamber, a guard plate overlying said apertures for preventing the escape of liquid through the air vent, and a tube secured to the member extending from the trap to a point below the level of the liquid for returning the liquid collected in the trap, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination with a shock diffuser comprising a casing having liquid and gas shock diffusing means, of a gas relief valve comprising a hollow body fitted on the casing, a closure for aid body having a part fitting therein and providing a chamber, said body provided with a trap and liquid and fluid passageways entering said chamber, and said closure'having a vent opening. a plate seated on saidvbody overlying said passageways and retained thereon by said closure, said plate adapted to permit the passage of air to the vent opening and to direct the liquid therewith into said trap, and a tube secured to said body and extending from said trap to a point below the liquid level in the casing to return thereto the oil collected in the trap, substantially a set forth. I

24. The combination with a shock diffuser comprising a casing having liquid and gas shock diffusing means, of a gas relief valve comprising a member mounted on the casing and providing a chamber, a cap mounted on said member and closing said chamber, said member provided with apertures communieating mm the chamber and the interior of the casing, a valve mounted on the member and overlying said apertures, a drain pipe secured to the said member communicating with said chamber, and an air vent pipe mounted on said cap and communicating with said chamber, substantially as set forth.

25. The combination with a shock diffuser comprising a casing having liquid and gas shock diffusing means, of a gas relief valve comprising a member mounted on the casing and having a chamber, said member constructed with concentric raised portions providing a channel and a valve seat and having apertures extending from said channel to the casing interior, a cap mounted on said member and closing the chamber, a valve mounted on the valve seat and normally closing said channel, a screw bolt securing said cap to said casing member and having ducts communicating with the chamber, a drain pipe mounted on said screw plug and communicating with said duct-s, and an air vent pipe mounted on said cap and communicating with the casing chamber, substantially as set forth.

26. In a shock diffuser, a liquid containing casing, a cylinder located within said liquid containing casing to form a space around said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, said casing having an offsetting portion outside said cylinder and formed to guide the liquid circulation in a constant direction while being forced by the movements of said piston, substantially as setforth.

27. Ina shock diffuser, a liquid containing casing, a cylinder therein, a piston in said cylinder, both cylinder and piston being submerged in said liquid, an intake being provided for said liquid into said cylinder at both ends while said piston moves in one direction, a restricted outlet for said liquid from one end of said cylinder during the opposite movement of said piston, said casing having an offsetting portion outside said cylinder adapted to receive said liquid from said restricted outlet and formed of a contour to direct said liquid to move in the direction it must move when entering said cylinder at both ends, substantially as set forth.

28. In a shock diffuser, a liquid containing casing, a cylinder therein, a piston in said cylinder, said cylinder formed with an intake for the liquid at both ends while said piston moves in one direction, a valve for restricting the outlet for said liquid from one end during the opposite movement of said piston, a second valve for closing the other end during said movement, an air supply extending from above the top surface of said liquid to and through the face of said first named valve, the air passa 'e being of greater area at its outlet on the face of said valve than its mean area, means for opening said air passage while said cylinder is receivlng liquid at both ends, and for closing said air passage while the liquid is being dlscharged through said restricted outlet, substantially as set forth.

29. In a shock diffuser, a liquid containing casing with an offsetting portion on one side, a cyhnder therein, a piston in said cylinder, the bottom of said cylinder forming a valve having an opening in its center of less d1- ameter than said cylinder and mounted within said casing to have a longitudinal movement to and from a stationary seat, said seat having one or more grooves in its face leading from within said cylinder in the direction of the offsetting portion in said casing, said offsetting portion being formed with a contour to direct the said liquid to move in the direction it must move when entering said cylinder, substantially as set forth.

30. A shock diffuser comprising a liquid containing casing formed with an offsetting portion on one side, a cylinder in said casing, and a piston in said cylinder, said offsetting portion of said casing being provided with means to establish the circulation of the liquid in a constant direction regardless of the movement of the piston, substantially as set forth.

31. In a shock diffuser, the combination of a liquid containing casing. a cylinder therein, and a piston in said cylinder, said piston comprising a valve adapted to be opened and closed by the movements thereof and having an air chamber normally connected with an outside air supply by a passage the inlet to which is located above the liquid level, substantially as set forth.

32. A shock diffuser comprising a housing, means to retain fluids of different densities within the housing, a moving part, means carried by the moving, part for trapping the fluid of lesser density, means to apply the pressure of the fluid of lesser density and the moving part to transpose the fluid of greater density, and vent tubes in communication with the respective fluids and the atmosphere to maintain the static relations of the fluids.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, this 22d day of June, A. D. nineteen hundred and sixteen.

FRANK F. LANDIS. [1a. s.]

Witnesses:

J. K. MARTIN, MARY Bremen. 

